The lawns that look incredible all summer in Austin aren’t the ones people start working on in May. They’re the ones that got the right spring lawn prep in February and March, before the grass even woke up. This is the window that sets the whole year, and the two moves that matter most — pre-emergent and the first feeding — are both about timing. Get them right and you spend the summer enjoying your yard instead of fighting it. Here’s how I prep lawns at the turn of the season here in Central Texas.
The Pre-Emergent Window Is Everything
If you do one thing for your lawn in late winter, make it this: get a pre-emergent down before the soil warms up. Pre-emergent works by stopping weed seeds — crabgrass, sandburs, and the rest of the summer crew — from germinating in the first place. The catch is that it has to be in the ground before they wake up, and that happens when soil temperatures hit about 55°F and hold there. In Austin that’s typically late February, though a warm winter can pull it earlier.
This is why I tell people to watch soil temperature, not the calendar. Put the pre-emergent down a week or two ahead of that 55-degree mark. Miss the window and there’s no fixing it — you’ll be pulling and spraying weeds all summer that a single well-timed application would have prevented.
When (and When Not) to Apply the First Fertilizer
The most common spring mistake I see is fertilizing too early. It’s tempting on the first warm week in February to want to feed the lawn, but warm-season grasses like St. Augustine and Bermuda aren’t ready to use it yet, and early nitrogen mostly just feeds weeds and invites disease.
Wait until the lawn has genuinely greened up and you’ve mowed real, growing grass two or three times — usually late March into April. That tells you the roots are active and ready to put the nutrients to work. Then your first feeding actually drives the thick, healthy growth you’re after.
Mowing and Early Weed Patrol
Your first mow of the season is partly a cleanup — cutting off the dead, brown top growth from winter so sunlight can reach the new green coming up underneath. After that, settle into the right height for your grass type (St. Augustine likes to stay on the taller side; Bermuda is cut lower). Keeping the proper height is one of the simplest things you can do to crowd out weeds naturally. If your equipment or schedule makes that hard to keep up with, that’s exactly what our lawn mowing service is for.
March is also when early weed pressure shows up — the winter weeds making their last push and the first summer weeds testing the waters. Spot-treat them while they’re small. And if your lawn felt compacted and water-starved last summer, early spring is a good time to plan core aeration so water and nutrients can actually reach the roots during the growing season.
Get Your Irrigation Ready Too
Spring prep isn’t just about the grass — it’s the right time to wake up your irrigation system and make sure it survived winter. Before the heat arrives and you actually need it, run each zone manually and watch it work. You’re looking for heads that got cracked or clogged over winter, heads spraying the driveway instead of the lawn, low pressure that signals a leak, and any zone that doesn’t come on at all. Catching these in March is easy; discovering them in July when your lawn is already browning is a much worse day.
While you’re at it, adjust your controller’s schedule for the season — spring lawns need far less water than summer lawns, and overwatering now invites disease and shallow roots. If a zone is acting up or your coverage has gaps, our irrigation repair team can get it sorted before the season gets serious.
Your Feb–March Prep Checklist
- Late February: Apply pre-emergent before soil temps hit 55°F.
- February–March: First mow to clear dead growth; set proper mowing height.
- March: Spot-treat early weeds; plan aeration if soil is compacted.
- Late March–April: First fertilizer once the lawn is green and actively growing.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Austin?
Before soil temperatures reach about 55°F and stay there, which is usually late February in Central Texas. A warm winter can move it earlier, so watch soil temps rather than relying on a fixed date. The application has to be down before weed seeds germinate to do any good.
When does St. Augustine grass come out of dormancy in Austin?
Generally in March, as soil and air temperatures warm and overnight lows stay mild. You’ll see it shift from straw-colored to green over a few weeks. Don’t rush to fertilize the moment you see green — wait until it’s actively growing.
What is the best fertilizer for Austin lawns in spring?
For warm-season grasses, a balanced slow-release fertilizer applied once the lawn is fully green and growing works well. The timing matters more than the exact bag — feeding too early wastes product and feeds weeds. If you want it dialed in for your specific lawn, we’re glad to help.
I’m Ferris MyCue, owner of Grass Works Lawn Care. Want your lawn handled right from the first warm week? Reach out for a free estimate and we’ll build a season-long plan.